Sister Abhaya murder: HC direction to govt on ASI's death

The Kerala government was on Thursday directed by the high court to hand over to an IGP-rank officer the probe of a case relating to death of a key witnesses in the Sister Abhaya murder.

The order was issued by a division bench comprising justices K Balakrishnan Nair and P N Ravindran on a PIL filed by Jabarullah of Kottayam.

When the matter came up before the bench, Director General of Prosecution informed the court that the government was prepared to hand over investigation relating to death of former assistant sub-inspector Augustin to the IGP.

Sister Abhaya, an inmate of St. Pius convent in Kottayam was found dead in the well of the convent on March 27, 1992.

Augustine, who was assistant sub-inspector of the Kottayam West police station at the time of Abhaya's death, was the first policeman to reach the spot after the nun's body was found.

He conducted the inquest and prepared an FIR in the case and was involved in the initial phase of investigation before the case was handed over to Crime Branch and later to CBI.

He was subjected to brain mapping by CBI in 2007 and his statement was taken on November 24, 2008, amid allegations that certain vital information had been suppressed in the FIR.

Augustin was found dead on November 25, 2008 in a suspected case of suicide.

Two priests and a nun have been arrested by CBI in connection with the case.